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RUGBY LEAGUE
Rugby league great Brad Fittler says the onus will be on the NRL to protect the game's image, should players be found guilty of supplying cocaine in the drugs crisis gripping the code just days out from the start of the new season.
Code-hopper and former Bronco Karmichael Hunt was the first big-name to be implicated in the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission's investigation into a Gold Coast cocaine syndicate after his Super Rugby debut with the Queensland Reds two weeks ago. He will appear in court on Thursday - the day of the NRL's season-opener - charged with four counts of supplying cocaine. The investigation has also seen current Titans players Greg Bird, Dave Taylor, Beau Falloon and Kalifa Faifai Loa, stood down after being charged with sourcing the drug from the syndicate.
Former Titans Jamie Dowling, Steve Michaels and Origin veteran Ashley Harrison are also facing charges. Former NRL players Jason Smith and Matt Seers have also been implicated in the scandal that's taken the gloss off a report released last week that showed the game made a $50 million profit in 2014.
There have been calls for the NRL to deal harshly with players should they be found guilty by the courts with league great and current Maroons coach Mal Meninga calling for the NRL to impose life bans on any players found guilty of drug offences.
Fittler - in Wollongong as part the Hogs for Homeless charity motorcycle ride - did not go that far but said it was important for the NRL to deal with the matter in a way that protects the integrity of the game.
"There's a few people at the moment with some really big challenges ahead of them," Fittler said.
"[Drugs] are an issue in life, it's an issue in society but there's people who've been put in charge on all different levels to deal with it. [Punishments] are for other people to decide, I'll let the powers that be decide on that, I just hope they do the right job."
The investigation has distracted from the NRL's blockbuster season-opener at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday between defending premiers South Sydney and a Brisbane side with seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett back at the helm.
Fittler will ride into Suncorp Stadium with the Hogs for Homeless convoy on Thursday and said the match can't come soon enough as the game looks to bounce back from the crisis.
"I'm just praying that first game's going to be a good one," Fittler said.
"There's been some really impressive start-up games over the last couple of years so hopefully we'll get a big crowd up there, get all the crap behind us and start watching some good footy."